We left off at the end of July just ahead of the start of unrestricted free agency, and things certainly haven’t slowed down since.

Buffalo Bandits

Mostly, the takeaway from the Bandits’ offseason is running it back with their signings including Steve Priolo, Adam Bomberry, Kyle Buchanan, and Matt Vinc all returning to the team. However, they were a big part of one of two three-team trades that have taken place this offseason.

• Buffalo acquires Steven Orleman and second-round picks in 2024 and 2025 from New York in exchange for a 2026 third-rounder
• Buffalo to Saskatchewan – Nathaniel Kozevnikov
• Saskatchewan to New York – Austin Madronic

Matt Vinc announced his return for not one but two more season in the Buffalo crease, which will allow Orleman to settle into his new digs in a backup role in his age 24 and 25 seasons. He was thrown right into the fire as a rookie in 2021-22 and held his own with a .767 SV% in over 980 minutes before a step back to a .750 in 2023, with Cam Dunkerley taking over the starting job for the Riptide towards the end of last season. Kozevnikov will have more opportunities for playing time heading to a young Rush team, while Madronic will look to have a big role in the Riptide offense following his rookie year in Saskatoon.

Rochester Knighthawks

The biggest Bandits loss was the gain of the Knighthawks, as Ethan O’Connor heads to Rochester on a 2 year deal. O’Connor, 31, spent 4 seasons with Buffalo, playing in 3 of them (missed 2019-20 with a knee injury), making his mark on the 2023 championship run as a frequent shot blocker. He will move into the Knighthawks young defense as a defensive leader.

Rochester’s other UFA signing is a familiar face to the area, with 36 year old Stephen Keogh joining the team on a one year deal. Keogh played in Rochester from 2012-2017 and then returned for 3 games in 2019 with trades to and from Colorado in between. In 17 games with Toronto last season, Keogh had 26 goals and 28 assists, including 4 goal games on February 4 against New York and March 11 against Albany.

After a tough season in the faceoff circle, the Knighthawks addressed that by trading for Connor Farrell, sending 4th and 5th round picks in 2023 to San Diego in the trade. Farrell, a NYS native, expects to make his box lacrosse debut after having established himself as one of the top faceoff athletes in the PLL with the Chrome, being coached by former Knighthawk and Fairport native, Tim Soudan. He and Joe Post, who also re-signed for 2 years, will be expected to take faceoffs for Rochester this season as they continue to both adjust to the box game.

2023 NLL Draft

After trading their 2023 first round pick in last summer’s Connor Fields trade, the Knighthawks weren’t expected to be too active on draft day, but they once again showed their willingness to move up and down the draft board on the floor of the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre.

Slotted into the 15th overall slot, the Bandits traded out of the spot by sending the pick to Rochester for one of their two 2024 first round picks (they also own Philadelphia’s first round pick next year). Rochester selected forward Graydon Hogg out of Albany with the pick, and then went right back up to the draft podium at 16 after making a move with Calgary.

To acquire that 16th pick, Rochester sent Thomas Hoggarth and Thomas Vela to the Roughnecks. Kyle Waters and the 35th overall pick were also sent to Rochester in the deal. Vela is a Western guy who will be able to play a little closer to home on the young Calgary left side of the offense, while the Hoggarth and Waters swap is one of two right shot big bodies. Rochester selected defender Ben MacDonnell with the 16th pick. MacDonnell goes to college in Canada, so he was able to sign a two year deal and will be in the fold come training camp, while Hogg will return for his COVID season at Albany. As a reminder, the Knighthawks will also have last year’s number 1 overall pick, Thomas McConvey, joining the team this season after his final collegiate season at Virginia.

Swarm It Up, as always, is the best place to check out the rest of the selections in the draft, including St. Joe’s Grad, Kellen Pulera, who the Bandits took at the end of the 4th round (68th overall).

Trades Around The League

August 4: Three Team Trade Shakes Things Up On Both Coasts

• Philadelphia To San Diego – Trevor Baptiste and Kyle Jackson
  • Trevor Baptiste, now living in Denver, requested a move out west, which the Wings were able to grant. Jackson did not play last season after taking a coaching job at the Avon Old Farms school in Connecticut, but appears to be ready to suit up this season for the Seals, having signed a 4 year deal on August 28.
• San Diego To Philadelphia – Mike McCannell and the 18th overall pick in the 2023 Draft
• Philadelphia To New York – Kiel Matisz and Matt Anderson
• New York To Philadelphia – Scott Dominey
  • Philadelphia parts ways with their 34 year old captain who has had that title since their return to the league in 2018-19 but bring in a do everything 26 year old defender in Dominey. The Riptide in turn get what may be their new captain to play both sides of the ball.
• San Diego to New York – 32nd overall pick in 2023 draft, 2025 third round selection
• New York to San Diego – 22nd overall pick in 2023 draft

August 11 – Calgary names Josh Sanderson their new Head Coach and Assistant General Manager, sends 2025 third round pick to San Diego as compensation.

August 11 – Georgia trades Robert Hudson to Calgary for the 30th overall pick in 2023 and a 2025 second round pick. Calgary signs Hudson to a three year deal.

August 15 – Las Vegas acquires Casey Jackson from San Diego in exchange for a 2024 second round pick.

September 7 – San Diego acquires Mike Poulin, the 44th overall pick in the 2023 draft, and a 2024 third round pick from Georgia in exchange for the 66th overall pick in the 2023 draft and a 2024 second round pick.

Poulin retired following the 2022 season but got the itch to put the pads back on after a stint behind the Swarm bench last year. He will serve as the veteran guidance for Chris Origlieri, who signed a 5 year extension this summer.

September 8 – Colorado acquires Connor Kelly from Albany in exchange for the 14th overall pick in the 2023 draft.

September 13 – Las Vegas moves up to the 2nd overall pick in the 2023 draft, sending the 4th and 9th overall picks to Vancouver along with Jackson Suboch in exchange for the aforementioned second overall pick, Jonathan Gagliardi, and the 70th overall pick in the 2023 draft

September 18 – Toronto acquires Chris Boushy from Halifax for their 2026 first round pick

Notable UFA Signings Around The League

Date	Player	New Team	Previous Team
August 3	G – Steve Fryer	Calgary	Vancouver
August 8	D – John LaFontaine	New York	Albany
August 11	D – Mitch Wilde	New York	Calgary
August 11	D – John Lintz	Vancouver	Colorado
August 12	D – Kyle Rubisch	San Diego	Saskatchewan
August 12	D – Matt Beers	Vancouver	Saskatchewan
August 12	D – Kevin Crowley	Vancouver	San Diego
August 21	F – Tyler Digby	Panther City	New York
August 21	D – Nate Wade	Colorado	Panther City
August 21	D – Paul Dawson	Colorado	Rochester
August 28	G – Craig Wende	Halifax	Georgia
September 11	F – Logan Schuss	Calgary	Vancouver

What’s Next?

October is the no lacrosse month, with summer lacrosse having come to an end in September and training camps starting up to start in November before the 2023-24 NLL season kicks off on December 1.